Forsythia cv. `Tinkle Bells`

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of Forsythia intermedia named `Tinkle Bells` characterized by its floriferousness, its semi-dwarf, upright character, its downwardly directed flowers, and its leaves which are serrated only at their upper ends.

This invention relates to a new cultivar of Forsythia intermedia named "Tinkle Bells", which is characterized especially by its semi-dwarf character, its upright growth habit, its pendulous flower buds and flowers, and the acute leaf tips on flowering wood foliage.

The new variety is a vegetative selection derived from a vegetative line of mutants, which had been produced in turn by subjected rooted cuttings of the parent Forsythia intermedia "Lynwood Gold" (F. intermedia "Spectabilis") to irradiation with 1,200 rad fast neutrons.

In 1968, three hundred cuttings of "Lynwood Gold" that had been potted and held in cold storage (38° F.) for six weeks and then returned to the greenhouse for two days were irradiated with 1200 rad fast neutrons. One of the plants of this group that broke dormancy formed a shoot with variegated foliage. This plant was cut back repeatedly to induce branching and eventually formed shoots that exhibited different characteristics. Each shoot was propagated by stem cuttings over 10 vegetative generations of selection and propagation. From this plant population two vegetatively selected types and three seedlings were selected. Further propagation and testing of these selections over several more years were shown to be the stable and new forsythia varieties that are the subject of this and four other co-pending plant patent applications; viz:

    ______________________________________                                         Ser. No.  Name           Type                                                  ______________________________________                                         272,063   "Lemon-Screen" vegetative selection                                  273,489   "Tinkle Bells" vegetative selection                                  271,919   "Minikin"      seedling                                              271,665   "Fairy Land"   seedling                                              271,666   "Pygmy-Red"    seedling                                              ______________________________________                                    

Each differs greatly from the parent "Lynwood Gold" and also from one another.

"Tinkle Bells" was selected from a group of vegetatively propagated shoots because it was very floriferous and attractive when in bloom. Cuttings from this plant have been rooted in soil and asexually propagated, and its progeny have displayed homogenous and stable characteristics.

Throughout this specification, color names beginning with a small letter signify that the name of the color as used in common speech are aptly descriptive. Color names beginning with a capital letter designate values based on the R.H.S. Colour Chart, published by The Royal Horticultural Society of London, England.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the new variety in color as grown in Knox County within the State of Tennessee.

FIG. 1 illustrates a five year old "Tinkle Bells" plant in spring bloom.

FIG. 2 shows flowered cut stems.

FIG. 3 is a close-up view of the flowers of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 illustrates the "Tinkle Bells" plant in summer foliage.

FIG. 5 is a closer view of the foliage shown in FIG. 4.

The following characteristics distinguish "Tinkle Bells" from its parent and other Forsythia cultivars:

THE PLANT

Although "Tinkle Bells", like its parent "Lynwood Gold", exhibits an upright growth habit, the ultimate height of "Tinkle Bells" is 4 to 41/2 ft. The plant exhibits medium vigor and is hardy in Zone 6b or lower. Because of its upright habit, "Tinkle Bells" tends not to self propagate by natural layerage, but the plant expands by stooling, i.e., shoots arise from the ground around the base of the plant, and the stooling can be controlled with post-emergence herbicides. Its upright growth habit and flowering at an early age make "Tinkle Bells" suitable for container growth and forcing. "Tinkle Bells" has a number of landscape applications, particularly for border and low screen plantings. The plant requires minimal pruning and has disease and insect-resistant foliage.

Its parent, "Lynwood Gold", by contrast is tall and slender--a straight upright variety with erect stems and which attains a height of 6 ft. to 71/2 ft. at maturity.

SHOOTS

The stems of "Tinkle Bells" are yellow green when young and light brown when mature. The stems are rigid and the pith is sparsely lamellate between nodes.

The stems of the "Lynwood Gold" parent are green when young and brown when mature; they are a bit stiff; the pith at the nodes is lamellate, and on one year shoots, the stems between nodes are hollow.

FLOWER

"Tinkle Bells" flower early with bright yellow flowers (Yellow 7B) which generally have four, but occasionally five or six petals; the corolla is 1/2 inch long, opening up to approximately a 45 degree angle with a total spread of 1/2 in. to 3/4 in. The pollen sacs of the stamen are located slightly below the stigmas of the short pistils. The plant generally produces two, but often four flowers per node on the flowering wood, which has internodes 1/2 to 11/2 in. long. Both the buds and resultant flowers are pendulous on upright stems.

The "Lynwood Gold" parent is fertile and has pistils that extend well above its pollen sacs, is late flowering and its medium sized flowers (about 1" to 11/2" in diameter) are almost evenly spaced on the stem. The flowers of "Lynwood Gold" are brilliant yellow (lighter than its parent, F. spectabilis). The corolla lobes of "Lynwood Gold" are reflexed and its petals are large, broad open and elliptic.

FOLIAGE

The "Tinkle Bells" leaves are medium green both in the young and mature stage. The leaves are simple elliptical, generally serrate, but only on the upper one-third, near the tip. The leaves are acute on flowering shoots and acuminate on vegetative shoots. The leaves are 1/2 in. wide and, including the petiole, are 2 in. to 3 in. long.

The leaves of the "Lynwood Gold" parent, on the other hand, are ovate lanceolate in shape and about 3" to 41/2" long and about 1" to 11/2" wide. Both young and old leaves are deep green in color.

To facilitate the comparison of the characteristics and features of "Tinkle Bells", the subject of this application, and its parent, "Lynwood Gold" and also with the four other new mutant offspring varieties of "Lynwood Gold" referred to above, there are attached hereto as Tables 1-5 comparative tabulations of the characteristics and properties of parent and its five offspring mutants that were developed from a single irradiated plant of "Lynwood Gold." Table 1 compares "Tinkle Bells" and its parent "Lynwood Gold". Table 2 compares "Tinkle Bells" and "Pygmy-Red". Table 3 compares "Tinkle Bells" and "Lemon-Screen". Table 4 compares "Tinkle Bells" and "Minikin". Table 5 compares "Tinkle Bells" and "Fairy Land".

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N 273,489                                                                    TINKLE BELLS LYNWOOD GOLD                                             ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Semi-dwarf; Upright                                                                           Tall, slender-Upright                                                          straight & erect stems                               Size, height                                                                              4'-41/2'       6'-71/2'                                             Size, width                                                                    Vigor      Medium vigor                                                        Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b                                                                  (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Does not layer Fertile                                                         naturally (replicates                                                          from stools (no                                                                seed pods observed)                                                 Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             Yellow Green   Green                                                Color (mature)                                                                            Light brown    Brown                                                Rigidity   Sparsely lamellate                                                                            A bit stiff;                                                    between nodes - Rigid                                                                         pith nodes lamellate;                                                          hollow between nodes                                                           on one year shoots                                   Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple                                                              Color:                                                                         (young)    Medium green   Deep Green                                           (mature)   Medium green   Deep Green                                           (fall)     Faded green to yellow                                               Shape      Elliptical     ovate lanceolate                                     tip        Acute on flower                                                                shoots accuminate on                                                           vegetative shoots                                                   base                                                                           margins    serrate on upper 1/3                                                           near tip                                                            Size:                                                                          length     2"-3" (with petiole)                                                                          3-41/2"                                              width      1/2"           1-11/2"                                              Venation   Pinnate                                                             Flower:                                                                        Date of    Early          Late                                                 Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               1/2"-3/4" at 45° angle                                                                 1"-11/2"  (medium)                                   Color:     Bright Yellow (7 B)                                                                           Brillant Yellow                                                                (Lighter then its                                                              parent Spectabilis)                                  Corolla:                                                                       length     1/2" open to 45° angle                                       lobes      not reflexed during                                                                           Reflexed                                                        prime                                                               Petals: number                                                                            4; occasionally 5 or 6                                                                        Large, broad, open                                                             Elliptic                                             Pistils:   short: anthers slightly                                                                       Extend well above                                               below stigma portion                                                                          pollen sacs (anthers)                                           of pistil      of stamens                                           Number per node:                                                                          2; often 4 per node                                                 Insertion angle                                                                           buds & flowers                                                      on upright stems:                                                                         pendulous                                                           Internodes:                                                                               1/2"-11/2"     Flowers almost                                                                 evenly spaced                                                                  on stems                                             Stress Resistance:                                                                        Disease and insect                                                  Utility Aspects:                                                                          Can force flowering                                                            suitable for container                                                         culture                                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N 273,489  S/N: 271,666                                                      TINKLE BELLS PYGMY RED                                                ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Semi-dwarf; Upright                                                                           Low, loose graceful                                                            arching to ground                                    Size, height                                                                              4'-41/2'       31/2'-41/2'                                          Size, width               5'-6'                                                Vigor      Medium vigor   Good vigor                                           Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b  Hardy Zone 6b                                                   (or lower)     (or lower)                                           Productivity                                                                              Does not layer Readily roots where                                             naturally (replicates                                                                         branches touch                                                  from stools (no                                                                               ground few seed pods                                            seed pods observed)                                                 Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             Yellow Green   High anthocyanin                                     Color (mature)                                                                            Light brown    Purple Red (59 A)                                    Rigidity   Sparsely lamellate                                                                            Flexible lamellate                                              between nodes - Rigid                                                                         between nodes                                        Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Medium green   Dark Green                                           (mature)   Medium green   Dark Green                                           (fall)     Faded green to yellow                                                                         Anthocyanin (maroon)                                                           expressed in full sun                                Shape      Elliptical     Lanceolate (few lobed                                                          leaves on vegetative                                                           shoots)                                              tip        Acute on flower                                                                               Accuminate                                                      shoots accuminate on                                                           vegetative shoots                                                   base                      Attenuate                                            margins    serrate on upper 1/3                                                                          Serrate                                                         near tip                                                            Size:                                                                          length     2"-3" (with petiole)                                                                          2"- 21/2" on flowering                                                         wood; to 23/4" on                                                              vegatative wood                                      width      1/2"           0.3"-0.4" on flowering                                                         wood; to 1" on                                                                 vegetative wood                                      Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Early          Intermediate                                         Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               1/2"-3/4" 45° angle                                                                    11/4"-11/2"                                          Color:     Bright Yellow (7 B)                                                                           Yellow (7A)                                          Corolla:                                                                       length     1/2" open to 45° angle                                       lobes      not reflexed during                                                                           Narrow                                                          prime                                                               Petals: number                                                                            4; occasionally 5 or 6                                                                        4 - sometimes 5                                      Pistils:   short: anthers slightly                                                                       Extend 2/25"-3/25"                                              below stigma portion                                                                          above pollen sacs of                                            of pistil      stamens                                              Number per node:                                                                          2; often 4 per node                                                                           2                                                    Insertion angle                                                                           buds & flowers                                                      on upright stems:                                                                         pendulous                                                           Internodes:                                                                               1/2"-11/2"     1"-11/2" (11/2" even on                                                        fast growing shoots)                                 Stress Resistance:                                                                        Disease and insect                                                                            disease and insect                                   Utility Aspects:                                                                          Can force flowering                                                            suitable for container                                                         culture                                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N 273,489  S/N 272,063                                                       TINKLE BELLS LEMON SCREEN                                             ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Semi-dwarf; Upright                                                                           Tall, open and                                                                 graceful; Upright, fan                                                         shape; vigorous; open                                                          foliage                                              Size, height                                                                              4'-41/2'       Up to 10'                                            Size, width               Hardy Zone 6b                                                                  (or lower)                                           Vigor      Medium vigor   Vigorous                                             Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b                                                                  (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Does not layer Abundant Flowers/                                               naturally (replicates                                                                         highly sterile/pruned                                           from stools (no                                                                               wood branches                                                   seed pods observed)                                                                           quickly                                              Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             Yellow Green                                                        Color (mature)                                                                            Light brown    Yellow                                               Rigidity   Sparsely lamellate                                                                            Slightly lamellate                                              between nodes - Rigid                                                                         betweeen nodes                                       Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Medium green   Yellow green 151 B                                                             or Chartreuse (appear                                                          after flowering)                                     (mature)   Medium green   Normal green                                                                   (Yellow-Green 144)                                                             whitish blotches                                     (fall)     Faded green to yellow                                                                         Greyed Purple 187 B                                  Shape      Elliptical                                                          tip        Acute on flower                                                                               Accuminate                                                      shoots accuminate on                                                           vegetative shoots                                                   base                      Attenuate                                            margins    serrate on upper 1/3                                                                          Serrate                                                         near tip                                                            Size:                                                                          length     2"-3" (with petiole)                                                                          Not distinguishing                                   width      1/2"           Not distinguishing                                   Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Early          Early                                                Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               1/2"-3/4" 45° angle                                                                    11/2"-13/4"                                          Color:     Bright Yellow (7 B)                                                                           Yellow (6 C)                                         Corolla:                                                                       length     1/2" open to 45° angle                                       lobes      not reflexed during                                                                           Somewhat reflexed                                               prime                                                               Petals: number                                                                            4; occasionally 5 or 6                                                                        4, sometimes fasciated                               Pistils:   short: anthers slightly                                                                       aborted stamens &/or                                            below stigma portion                                                                          pistils                                                         of pistil                                                           Number per node:                                                                          2; often 4 per node                                                                           4 to 8                                               Insertion angle                                                                           buds & flowers                                                      on upright stems:                                                                         pendulous                                                           Internodes:                                                                               1/2"-11/2"     1" 2" long on                                                                  flowering wood                                       Stress Resistance:                                                                        Disease and insect                                                                            Summer foliage                                                                 disease & insect                                                               resistant                                            Utility Aspects:                                                                          Can force flowering                                                                           Summer pruning leads                                            suitable for container                                                                        to shoot with                                                   culture        chartreuse leaves                                                              (young)                                              ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 4                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N 273,489  S/N 271,919                                                       TINKLE BELLS MINIKIN                                                  ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Semi-dwarf; Upright                                                                           Small stature, fine                                                            textured; small leaves                                                         and small stems;                                                               densely foliated                                     Size, height                                                                              4'-41/2'       2'-21/2'                                             Size, width               3'-4'                                                Vigor      Medium vigor   Good vigor but slow                                                            growth                                               Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b  Zone 6b (or lower)                                              (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Does not layer Layers naturally                                                naturally (replicates                                                                         Abundant seed pods                                              from stools (no                                                                seed pods observed)                                                 Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             Yellow Green   Light green                                          Color (mature)                                                                            Light brown    Brownish green                                       Rigidity   Sparsely lamellate                                                                            Ascending strongly                                              between nodes - Rigid                                                                         lamellate between                                                              nodes                                                Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Medium green   Bright green to dark                                                           green                                                (mature)   Medium green   Bright green to dark                                                           green                                                (fall)     Faded green to yellow                                                                         Fading green until                                                             leaf drop                                            Shape      Elliptical     Linear                                               tip        Acute on flower                                                                               Accuminate                                                      shoots accuminate on                                                           vegetative shoots                                                   base                      Attenuate                                            margins    serrate on upper 1/3                                                                          Lightly serrate                                                 near tip                                                            Size:                                                                          length     2"-3" (with petiole)                                                                          On vegetative shoots-                                                          11/2" attached to 1/2"                                                         long slender petiole;                                                          smaller on flowering                                                           shoots                                               width      1/2"           On vegetative                                                                  shoots - 1/4";                                       Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Early          Intermediate                                         Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               1/2"-3/4" 45° angle                                                                    1/2"-3/4" (cup shaped)                                                         fully reflexed                                       Color:     Bright Yellow (7 B)                                                                           Yellow (9 A)                                         Corolla:                                                                       length     1/2" open to 45° angle                                       lobes      not reflexed during                                                                           strongly reflexed,                                              prime          very small                                           Petals: number                                                                            4; occasionally 5 or 6                                                                        4:- short and recurved                               Pistils:   short: anthers slightly                                                                       Short; 1/25" below                                              below stigma portion                                                                          pollen sacs of stamens                                          of pistil                                                           Number per node:                                                                          2; often 4 per node                                                                           2-4                                                  Insertion angle                                                                           buds & flowers                                                      on upright stems:                                                                         pendulous                                                           Internodes:                                                                               1/2"-11/2"     Short (Flowering                                                               shoots 1/4-3/4"                                                                Vegetative shoots                                                              up to 2")                                            Stress Resistance:                                                                        Disease and insect                                                                            Doesn't require same                                                           degree of winter                                                               protection as most                                                             container grown                                                                plants of genre                                      Utility Aspects:                                                                          Can force flowering                                                                           Blooming can be                                                 suitable for container                                                                        forced. Expecially                                              culture        suited for container                                                           culture.                                             ______________________________________                                    

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                                  S/N 273,489  S/N 271,665                                                       TINKLE BELLS FAIRY LAND                                               ______________________________________                                         Plant:                                                                         Habit      Semi-dwarf; Upright                                                                           Small overall & fine                                                           textured:                                                                      Closely spaced                                                                 flowers & leaves                                                               Dense (young) foliage                                Size, height                                                                              4'-41/2'       3'-4'                                                Size, width               5'-6'                                                Vigor      Medium vigor   Good vigor for size                                  Hardiness  Hardy Zone 6b  Zone 6b (or lower)                                              (or lower)                                                          Productivity                                                                              Does not layer Few seed pods                                                   naturally (replicates                                                          from stools (no                                                                seed pods observed)                                                 Stems:                                                                         Color (young)                                                                             Yellow Green   Light green                                          Color (mature)                                                                            Light brown    Brownish green                                       Rigidity   Sparsely lamellate                                                                            Very flexible lamellate                                         between nodes - Rigid                                                                         between nodes                                        Leaves:                                                                        Type       Simple         Simple                                               Color:                                                                         (young)    Medium green   Medium green (fairly                                                           light)                                               (mature)   Medium green   Medium green (fairly                                                           light)                                               (fall)     Faded green to yellow                                                                         Mostly faded yellow                                  Shape      Elliptical     Lanceolate                                           tip        Acute on flower                                                                               Accuminate                                                      shoots accuminate on                                                           vegetative shoots                                                   base                      Attenuate                                            margins    serrate on upper 1/3                                                                          On flowering wood;                                              near tip       entire                                                                         On vegetative wood;                                                            serrate top 1/3                                      Size:                                                                          length     2"-3" (with petiole)                                                                          On flowering wood:                                                             11/2"-21/2"                                                                    On vegatative shoots:                                                          about 3"                                             width      1/2"           On flowering wood:                                                             0.2"-0.4"                                                                      On vegatative shoots                                                           0.5-0.6"                                             Venation   Pinnate        Pinnate                                              Flower:                                                                        Date of    Early          Intermediate                                         Flowering                                                                      Size: width                                                                               1/2"-3/4" 45° angle                                                                    3/4"-11/4"                                           Color:     Bright Yellow (7 B)                                                                           Yellow (6 A)                                         Corolla:                                                                       length     1/2" open to 45° angle                                       lobes      not reflexed during                                                                           Reflexed, small                                                 prime                                                               Petals: number                                                                            4; occasionally 5 or 6                                                                        Generally 4-many                                                               have 5, 6, 7 and 8 on                                                          single corolla                                       Pistils:   short: anthers slightly                                                                       Extend 3/25" to 4/25 "                                          below stigma portion                                                                          above pollen sacs                                               of pistil      (anthers) of the                                                               stamen                                               Number per node:                                                                          2; often 4 per node                                                                           2-4                                                  Insertion angle                                                                           buds & flowers                                                      on upright stems:                                                                         pendulous                                                           Internodes:                                                                               1/2"-11/2"     1/4" to about 1"                                     Stress Resistance:                                                                        Disease and insect                                                  Utility Aspects:                                                                          Can force flowering                                                                           Very well suited for                                            suitable for container                                                                        container culture                                               culture                                                             ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Forsythia intermedia named `Tinkle Bells`, substantially as shown and described herein. 